The Scarlet Pimpernel
house, and Sir Percy Blakeney will reward thee doubly, if
thou seest well to her privacy and comfort.’
Sir Andrew had no doubt guessed the many conflicting
doubts and fears which raged in honest Jellyband’s head;
and, as he was a gallant gentleman, he tried by this brave
hint to allay some of the worthy innkeeper’s suspicions. He
had the satisfaction of seeing that he had partially succeed-
ed. Jellyband’s rubicund countenance brightened somewhat,
at the mention of Sir Percy’s name.
‘I’ll go and see to it at once, sir,’ he said with alacrity, and
with less frigidity in his manner. ‘Has her ladyship every-
thing she wants for supper?’
‘Everything, thanks, honest friend, and as I am famished
and dead with fatigue, I pray you see to the rooms.’
‘Now tell me,’ she said eagerly, as soon as Jellyband had
gone from the room, ‘tell me all your news.’
‘There is nothing else much to tell you, Lady Blakeney,’
replied the young man. ‘The storm makes it quite impos-
sible for any vessel to put out of Dover this tide. But, what
seems to you at first a terrible calamity is really a blessing in
disguise. If we cannot cross over to France to-night, Chauv-
elin is in the same quandary.
‘He may have left before the storm broke out.’
‘God grant he may,’ said Sir Andrew, merrily, ‘for very
likely then he’ll have been driven out of his course! Who
knows? He may now even be lying at the bottom of the sea,
for there is a furious storm raging, and it will fare ill with all
small craft which happen to be out. But I fear me we cannot
build our hopes upon the shipwreck of that cunning devil,